Samantha (Corrections Officer)

I could practically feel the distance between us like a stretched tether, and every crunch of my boots sounded so loud that it felt like I was drawing him in. My breathing became erratic.

I could practically feel the distance between us like a stretched tether, and every crunch of my boots sounded so loud that it felt like I was drawing him in. My breathing became erratic.

little puffs of steam hitting the air the moonlight which minutes ago seemed comforting now felt like it put a spotlight on me making me an easy target when i reached the far edge of the field a weak floodlight from my cousin's back porch finally came into view relief washed over me but i wasn't safe yet

little puffs of steam hitting the air the moonlight which minutes ago seemed comforting now felt like it put a spotlight on me making me an easy target when i reached the far edge of the field a weak floodlight from my cousin's back porch finally came into view relief washed over me but i wasn't safe yet

the house sat another fifty yards away with no fence or heavy brush to hide behind i almost slipped as i picked up speed my boots failing to find solid traction on the snowy ground part of me expected to hear him pounding the snow behind me the image of that masked face propelled me forward i remember letting out a shaky startled sound some kind of stifled yelp because the fear that he was about to grab me from behind was so overwhelming

the house sat another fifty yards away with no fence or heavy brush to hide behind i almost slipped as i picked up speed my boots failing to find solid traction on the snowy ground part of me expected to hear him pounding the snow behind me the image of that masked face propelled me forward i remember letting out a shaky startled sound some kind of stifled yelp because the fear that he was about to grab me from behind was so overwhelming

even the possibility that my footprints might guide him straight to the door made me push my legs harder the porch steps never looked so beautiful i vaulted up them nearly crashing into the wooden railing my gloved hand fumbled for the doorknob and i almost tore the screen door off in my rush to get inside Once I crossed that threshold, I slammed the door behind me.

even the possibility that my footprints might guide him straight to the door made me push my legs harder the porch steps never looked so beautiful i vaulted up them nearly crashing into the wooden railing my gloved hand fumbled for the doorknob and i almost tore the screen door off in my rush to get inside Once I crossed that threshold, I slammed the door behind me.

My fingers scrambled to lock it, and I nearly dropped the keys while double-checking the bolt. Only then did I allow myself to glance out the window. The yard was bathed in that same pale glow, and I couldn't see anything stirring out there. But who knows? Maybe he was just beyond the reach of the light, hidden by some drift or tree trunk. My pulse refused to calm down.

My fingers scrambled to lock it, and I nearly dropped the keys while double-checking the bolt. Only then did I allow myself to glance out the window. The yard was bathed in that same pale glow, and I couldn't see anything stirring out there. But who knows? Maybe he was just beyond the reach of the light, hidden by some drift or tree trunk. My pulse refused to calm down.

My whole body quivered from a cocktail of cold, leftover adrenaline, and raw terror. My cousins were all asleep upstairs, and I couldn't bring myself to wake them. Who would even believe my story? It would be easy for them to chalk it up to booze or an overactive imagination.

My whole body quivered from a cocktail of cold, leftover adrenaline, and raw terror. My cousins were all asleep upstairs, and I couldn't bring myself to wake them. Who would even believe my story? It would be easy for them to chalk it up to booze or an overactive imagination.

so i stood there near the window for what felt like an hour eyes scanning the darkness occasionally a flicker of movement would catch my attention a shadow a trick of the light and every time my chest tightened expecting to see that masked figure creeping closer Eventually, I convinced myself to move away from the window and drop onto the living room couch.

so i stood there near the window for what felt like an hour eyes scanning the darkness occasionally a flicker of movement would catch my attention a shadow a trick of the light and every time my chest tightened expecting to see that masked figure creeping closer Eventually, I convinced myself to move away from the window and drop onto the living room couch.

My legs still felt shaky, and my head swirled. Sleep was out of the question. My mind kept replaying that standoff. Me, out in the open. Him, silent and still. I couldn't figure out what he wanted or why he didn't speak. And that made it worse, because I'd never know if he was just some lost traveler or something much darker.

My legs still felt shaky, and my head swirled. Sleep was out of the question. My mind kept replaying that standoff. Me, out in the open. Him, silent and still. I couldn't figure out what he wanted or why he didn't speak. And that made it worse, because I'd never know if he was just some lost traveler or something much darker.

By morning, the sun broke through the blinds, lighting up the room and dragging me out of a half-conscious state. Everything looked normal in the daylight, but I hadn't forgotten. That image stayed burnt into my thoughts. I realized I wasn't willing to risk crossing that field alone again anytime soon. The entire place suddenly felt contaminated by danger.

By morning, the sun broke through the blinds, lighting up the room and dragging me out of a half-conscious state. Everything looked normal in the daylight, but I hadn't forgotten. That image stayed burnt into my thoughts. I realized I wasn't willing to risk crossing that field alone again anytime soon. The entire place suddenly felt contaminated by danger.

Friends and family tried to ask me what was wrong. I just shrugged them off, said I had a rough night. But I knew I wasn't sticking around for a repeat performance. North Dakota had always seemed quiet, harmless. Yet in those few minutes, it felt like I'd peered into a part of the landscape that was anything but safe.

Friends and family tried to ask me what was wrong. I just shrugged them off, said I had a rough night. But I knew I wasn't sticking around for a repeat performance. North Dakota had always seemed quiet, harmless. Yet in those few minutes, it felt like I'd peered into a part of the landscape that was anything but safe.